Irrigation head-gate



2 SheetsSh-eet 2.

(No Model.)

J. M. EADS. IRRIGATION HEAD GATE.

Patented 1330.3, 1895.

I-I SATTYSQ 6377M QQW UNITE u: TATES IRRIGATION HEAD-GATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 550,711, dated December3, 1895.

LTlZlCILflZi. 113.. March 26, 1895. Serial No. 543,220. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES MARION EADS, a citizen of the United States,residing in San Bernardino county, near the city of Pomona, Los Angelescounty, in the State of California, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Irrigation Head-Gates, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to those gates which are used chiefly in the mainlines of pipe of irrigation systems for the purpose of cutting off apart or all of the water flowing in such pipe-line and diverting it soit may be used for irrigation.

In southern California the question of irrigation is one of primaryimportance, for the reason that water is comparatively scarce andreaches an exorbitant price in comparison with the price of land.Therefore it becomes highly essential that the head-gates used fordiverting water be of such construction as to avoid all leakage orwaste. Heretofore it has been customary to employ slide-valves for thispurpose; but as ordinarily constructed these valves have seriousobjections. The most important objection is that these valves asheretofore constructed cannot be made to fit tight, for the reason thatif they are fitted too tight fine sand will get in the grooves and willclog the same and prevent the slide from closing the valveway. For thisreason it has been customary to make the slide-grooves of greater widththan the valve-slide and to depend upon the pressure of the wateragainst the valve to force the valve-slide against its seat to therebyprevent leakage of water between the valve and its seat. Ordinarilythese valves are used in pipe-lines made. of cement, and the pressure ofthe Water is not sufficient to force the slide against the seat withsufficient force to prevent leakage, and consequently a large amount ofwater is thereby wasted-that is to say, it passes through the head-gatewhen it should not.

In order to avoid any binding or cramping of the valve-slide in thegrooves, I arrange my valve-slide upon one face of a plate provided withadischarge-opening and a valve-seat surrounding such opening, andprovide the slide grooves in short detached sections arranged in lugsprojecting from the face of the plate, and I operate such slide by meansof a nut secured to the rear of the slide and arranged to travel along ascrew-stem also arranged at the rear of the slide. By this constructionit becomes difficult to cause the valve-slide to seat perfectly upon itsseat without buckling or cramping, a slight deviation of the screw froma right line making the parts bind and cramp in a highly-objectionablemanner.

The object of my invention is to overcome these objections and toproduce a slide-valve which will be simple in its construction and whichwill be so arranged as to tightly force or wedge the valve-slide againstits seat when the valve is fully closed, and to release the valve fromthis wedging action and to allow it to swing outward practically freefrom 0011- tact with the valve-seat while t he valve is being opened orclosed thus to avoid friction and at the same time to make anabsolutelytight closure of the valve irrespective of the pressure of thewater against the valve-slide; also, to so construct the gate that sandor gravel will not interfere with its perfect operation.

One object of myinvention is to produce a valve of this class in whichthe valve-slide may be quickly and accurately seated upon its seat;also, to provide for lightness and simplicity in the contrivance foroperating the valve-slide.

My invention comprises a slide-valve having its valve-slide operated byascrew-stem having one end .journaled in an adjustable j ournal-bearingto allow the stem to be moved toward or from the plane of thevalve-seat, thus to seat the valve-slide perfectly upon the valve-seat.

My invention also comprises a slide-valve having its slidegroovesarranged in detached sections, each section being inclined at an anglewith the plane of the valve-seat and a slide-valve arranged to enter thegrooves and to be wedged thereby firmly against the valveseat.

My invention also comprises the various features of construction andcombinations of parts whereby I am enabled to carry my invention intopractical operation.

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective front view of my improved valve with the slidepartially open.

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Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, showing the slide fully'closed.Fig. 3 is a vertical mid-section showing my improved valve arranged foruse under pressure. Fig. at is a plan view of my improved device,showing the screw-stem in its locked position. Fig. 5 is a fragmentaldetail showing a rear view of the screw-adj usting mechanism.

In the drawings, A represents the frame of my improved slide-valve. Thisframe comprises a lower portion a, which is provided with a valve-seat aand with lugs or projections B B b 7), arranged upon opposite sides ofsuch valve-seat and in which are provided the valve -slide grooves I),which are arranged to receive suitable lugs c, &c. which are arrangedupon the slide 0 and which will hereinafter be more particularlydescribed. To this lower frame is secured by suitable means the uppersupport D, which serves to support the screw-stem E, which operates theslide 0. To the lower portion a of the headgate frame is rigidlyattached an arm or crossbar F, which extends from one side of the frameto the other and is arranged to leave a slot f between the arm and theframe, in which slot the slide C is arranged to reciprocate. The lowerend of the screw-stem E is journaled in the arm or bar F, which alsoserves as a guide for the valve-slide, and the upper portion of thescrew-stem is journaled in the upper support D and is prevented frombeing withdrawn from its journals by means of a collar cl, which isarranged upon the screw-stem below the upper support D and fixed uponthe stem by means of a set-screw d. The threaded portion of thescrew-stem is equal in length to the vertical play of the valve.

It is quite difficult to cause the slide C to seat perfectly upon thevalve-seat a and at the same time to so arrange the screw-stem E that itwill operate the slide without cramping or binding. I overcome theseobjections by j ournalin g the upper end of the screw-stem in a slidingjournal, which is adjustably secured to the upper support. This supportis provided with a tongue D and slot (1, through which the screw-steinpasses and is free to be moved backward or forward with relation to theplane of the valve-seat. This adjustable journal comprises a slide G,which is provided with downwardly projecting hookshaped fingers G, whichare arranged to grasp the tongue D, which is provided upon the uppersupport. This slide G is also provided with a slot g, through whichpasses a bolt 11, which also passes through a suitable opening in theupper support, and a nut h is arranged to screw upon the bolt to lockthe slide in its adjusted position. By this construction the screw-stemis arranged to be adjusted toward and from the plane of the valve-seat,and thus cause the slide to seat perfectly upon the valve-seat, therebyto avoid all straining of the various parts. This is specially designedfor use where the water is under considerable pressure. With ordinarywatergates, where there is but little pressure, the gate will work verywell, even though the journal is not adjusted.

It is desirable that the valve-slide be of very simple constructiomandthat it be very strong and not liable to become broken. It is alsoessential that the wedging-grooves and the lugs or their equivalentswhich are provided along the side of the slide be of such a characterthat sand or gravel will not interfere with the successful operation ofthe slide. For this reason I cut the grooves or guide ways Z) laterallyentirely through the pro jections B B b b in which they are formed, soas to allow the water to flow through the grooves and to therebydislodge all loose sediment orsand therefrom. The projections c c, &c.,are wedge-shaped, and in case any sediment or sand should settle inthese grooves the action of the wedge-shaped projections as they areforced into their seats will dislodge the material from the grooves andthe water flowing therethrough will carry it away.

The slide O is provided with a raised annular ring 0, corresponding tothe valve-seat a, provided upon the plate a, and these two faces areground to fit smoothlytogether. To the upper portion of this slide 0isrigidly secured a nut or tap J, which is provided with ascrew-threaded opening 3', through which the screw-stem E screws, andwhen the stem is rotated this nut J travels along the stem to raise andlower the slide.

In order to arrange the projections c o, &c., which force the slideagainst its seat practically even with the top and the bottom of thevalve-seat, so that the pressure of the valveslide against thevalve-seat will be uniform, it is necessary that these projectionsoffset, or, in other words, that each of the lower projections 0 c bearranged inside of a vertical line drawn from the inner line of theupper projectionsthat is to say, the lugs 13 Z), in which the lowersections of the slide-grooves are arranged are inside of a vertical linedrawn from the inner line of the upper lugs B B, in order that when theslide is raised the projections c c, which enter the lowergroove-sections, may pass such lugs; but when the slide is forceddownward into its closed position the lower projections will enter thelower sections of the guideways or grooves and will wedge therein, thusforcing the valve-slide firmly against its seat, so as to prevent anyescape whatever of water through the gate when closed.

The lugs and the guideways are so arranged with relation to each otherthat the pressure exerted against the slide by the upper and lower lugswill be uniform and simultaneous. As shown in the drawings, the valve isoffset to form the projections which enter the slidegrooves.

I do not limit my invention to any especial mode of construction; but Iconsider the construction shown tobe preferable,for the reason thatthereby great strength is given to the slide.

In southern California water disputes are very frequent and stealingwater by tampering with the gates is very common. The water isordinarily distributed by a zanjero, who regulates the gates to deliverto each person his proper amount of water; but it has heretofore beenimpossible to lockthe gates in their various positions required to allowany desired flow of water, except by inclosing the gates in a protectingcase or box. In pipelines as ordinarily constructed it has been deemedimpracticable to provide a protecting case for each gate, and,furthermore, if practicable, it would be so expensive as to preclude itsgeneral adoption. By my improved gate, in which the screw-stem remainsstationary while the valve-slide travels up and down along thescrew-stem, I overcome this difficulty and provide means whereby thegate may be locked with the slide in any position desired, either fullyclosed, fully open, or partially open to any extent. This means consistsof the screw-stem E, provided with the angular shank e, thelocking-staple K, attached to the frame of the gate, and thelocking-link L, having one end, Z, adapted to fit upon the angular end 6of the screw-stem and its other end, Z, adapted to fit upon-the stapleK. This link is secured by the staple by means of a padlock M. By thesemeans it is made impossible to remove the link from the angular end ofthe screw-stem until the padlock is removed to allow the link to beremoved from the staple, and since the screwstem is always stationary asregards axial movement the slide can be adjusted at any desired positionand the stem easily and effectually locked against further rotation,thus locking the valve-slide in its adjusted posit-ion.

In order to adapt my invention for use in pipe-lines under heavypressure, I provide a' stuffing-box N, Fig. 3, arranged encircling theupper end of the screw-stem E, allowing the angular shank e of the stemto project above such stuffing-box, so that the top of the gate may becapped over, as shown in Fig. 3, leaving the end 6 projecting throughthe capping to allow the gate to be regulated. The neck a of thisstuffing-box N is cast integral with the adjustable j ournal-piece G, inwhich the screw-stem is journaled, and the opening a is drilled somewhatlarger than the screw-stem E, so that when the stuffingboX is inposition upon the screw-stem the screw-stem may be moved back and forthto bring the slide into alignment with its seat without causing ittobindin the stuffing-box.

A suitable strengthening-rib a is provided upon the rear face of thegate-frame to prevent any buckling or straining of the frame.

As shown in the drawings, the upper part of the gate is secured to thelower portion thereof by means of wrought-iron straps A; but it is to beunderstood that my invention is not limited to any special details ofconstruction and that the entire frame of the gate may be made ofcast-iron, if deemed desirable.

The gate is secured to the stand-pipe by bolts 0, in additionto theusual cement mortar.

In practice to open the gate the crank is placed upon the angularportion 6 of the screw-stem E, and the stem is rotated to cause the nutor tap to travel upward along the screw-stem, thus raising the slide andopening the valve.

To close the gate the operation just described is reversed, and theslide is thereby carried downward until the projections upon thevalve-slide enter the inclined grooves and sliding downward therealongforce the slide firmly against the slide-seat and absolutely prevent anyleakage of water through the gate.

Now, having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. A head gate having a slide valve operated by a screw stem, and havingsuch screw stem arranged to be adjusted toward and from the plane of thevalve seat.

2. A head gate having a valve slide oper ating screw stem journaled atone end in a fixed bearing, and journaled at its other end in a bearingcapable of adjustment toward and from the plane of the valve seat.

3. In a head gate, the combination of the valve seat; the valve slideoperating screw stem journaled at its lower end in a fixed bearing, thevalve slide arranged to seat upon the valve seat and provided with thenut arranged to travel along the screw stem; the upper support; and thejournal adjustably secured to the upper support and arranged to journalthe upper end of the screw stem.

4:. A slide valve having its frame provided with the valve seat and twoupper and two lower downwardly inclined valve slide grooves arrangedupon opposite sides of such' valve seat, the two lower grooves beingoffset to bring them inside of the upper guideways; the valve slideprovided with the projection arranged to enter the grooves, and suitablemeans for operating the slide.

5. In a head gate the combination of the frame provided with the valveseat and with the lugs having the downwardly inclined slide valvegrooves arranged therein, two upon each side of the valve seat one abovethe other, the lower guideway upon each side being inside of a verticalline drawn from the inner face of its respective upper guideway; theslide valve provided with the projections arranged to seat in the slidevalve grooves when the valve is closed, and suitable means for operatingthe slide valve.

6. A slide valve having its valve slide grooves each formed in twoindependent sections inclined at an angle with the plane of the valveseat, and the valve slide having four projections arranged to enter thefour detached valve slide grooves and to wedge the valve slide tightlyagainst its seat.

7. A slide valve having its valve slide grooves each formed in detachedsections inclined at an angle with the plane of the valve seat and theslide valve having projections one arranged to enter each section of thevalve slide grooves and to wedge the valve slide tightly against itsseat.

8. A slide valve comprising a plate having a discharge opening and avalve seat surrounding such opening; a series of lugs proj ectin g fromthe face of the plate and having the valve slide grooves formedthereinin detached sections, each section being inclined at an angle with theplane of the valve seat; the valve slide arranged to enter the detachedsections of the valve grooves to wedge the valve tightly against thevalve seat, and suitable means for operating the valve slide.

9. A slide valve comprising a plate having a discharge opening and avalve seat sur rounding such opening, and having four lugs projectingfrom the face of the plate, each lug having formed therein a valve slidegroove, such groove extending transversely through the lug to allow thefree passage of water therethrough 5 the valve slide arranged to en tersuch grooves, and to wedge tightly against the Valve seat, and means foroperating the slide.

10. A slide valve comprising a plate havin g a discharge opening and avalve seat surrounding such discharge opening; a series of lugsprojecting from the face of the plate and having the valve slide groovesformed therein in detached sections each section being inclined at anangle with the plane of the valve seat; the valve slide arranged toenter the detached sections of the valve slide grooves and to be wedgedtightly thereby against the valve seat; the arm secured to the plate andextending from side to side of the valve seat above the top thereof andarranged to form in combination with such plate a slot through which thevalve slide reciprocates; the screw stem having one end journaled in thearm and its other end journaled to the upper portion of the head gate;and the nut, secured to the valve slide and adapted to travel along thescrew stem to raise and lower the slide.

11. In a valve, the combination of the valve seat; the valve slideoperating screw stem journaled to-revolve and provided with an angularend; the valve slide arranged to seat in the valve seat and providedwith a nut screwed upon said screw stein; a locking staple fixed to theframe of the valve; and a link arranged to fit upon the angular head ofthe screw stem and also upon the locking staple.

JAMES MARION EADS. WVitnesses:

ALFRED I. TOWNSEND, JAMEs R. TOWNSEND.

